As Lauren Layne’s salacious Sex, Love & Stiletto series returns, a jaded columnist discovers a steamy way to get over an old flame: falling for him all over again.

As Stiletto magazine’s authority on all things breakup-and-heartache, Emma Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina’s darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma’s latest article forces her to face her demons—namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar.

After giving up everything for a pro-soccer career, Alex Cassidy watches his dreams crumble as a knee injury sidelines him for good. Now he’s hanging up his cleats and giving journalism a shot. It’s just a coincidence that he happens to pick a job in the same field, and the same city, as his former fiancée . . . right? But when Emma moves in next door, it’s no accident. It’s research. And Alex can’t help wondering what might have been. Unlike the innocent girl he remembers, this Emma is chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more.

I'm a rebel... I jumped head first into Lauren Layne's Sex, Love and Stiletto series with the fourth book, The Trouble with Love. Since I have not yet read books 1 through 3, I did not get to experience the build-up between Emma and Alex. It is not something that I typically like to do. I would rather start a series from the beginning because I love the waiting and the build-up between two characters. With that said, I am rapidly becoming a big fan of Lauren's work and I freaking devoured The Trouble with Love. I picked it up one night with the intention of reading a couple chapters to get a feel for the book. Famous last words, right? Yeah, I was up until 4 AM because I could not put the book down. I regret nothing... Well, I do regret scaring people the next day with my book-zombie-ness. What did I love about this book? Everything! I loved the characters. I loved the mixture of playfulness and the sadness between Emma and Alex. You rarely come across two characters that love each other so much, they are almost scared to be together because they also have the power to break each other's spirits. They really can ruin the other's idea of happiness. Emma learning how her break-up with Alex damaged her heart broke me. Alex believing that his one love wanted nothing to do with him made me tear up. I wish I had met them when they were first introduced so I could yell at them along the way. I adored The Trouble with Love. I am so looking forward to starting the series with the first book because as much as I loved Alex and Emma, I also adored all of the background characters. I can't get enough of Lauren's books. Must read them ALL!

Lauren Layne is a snarky cynic with a serious weakness for happily ever afters.

Marrying her high school sweetheart was a good start. *cue Disney soundtrack.* But Lauren wanted all romance, all the time.

Now she writes fictional happy endings, and considers her job done well if you swoon while reading her books. Don't worry. You will.

Once upon a time she lived in a Manhattan high-rise, but now she's on the laid-back train in the Seattle area. If you ever find yourself in Issaquah, she'll probably buy you a drink. Maybe.